I'm thinking of a scrund so widespread and pervasive that perhaps "scrund" isn't even the right word for it. It appears in movies constantly. I recently read a book where it was invoked over a dozen times, although I suppose that author had an excuse. What is it?

Is the title relevant? Is the scrund related to a historical event? Is it something that could be cured purely by observation in the 21st century? Is it anything to do with weapons? Clothes? War? Computers? Food? Electricity?

Is the title relevant? No, it offers two obscure clues. Is the scrund related to a historical event? No. Is it something that could be cured purely by observation in the 21st century? With observation, and a little factual information that is widely known. Is it anything to do with weapons? Clothes? War? Computers? Food? Electricity? None of these.

Did this scrund appear in Gladiator? Not that I recall, but I've only seen it once, a while ago. Sorry.

Is it the "humans only use 10% of their brain" myth? No, though that's a widespread one too! Something else related to brains? Yes to yesish. To humans? Yes. To animals? A specific animal? Instinct relevant? Emotions? Intelligence? Use of tools? No to rest.

Does it have to do with left brain/right brain processing? Horoscopes? Any other Pseudoscience? A specific feeling or emotion? Memory? Grey matter? Deja vu? Mind playing tricks? A specific sense involved? Closing someones eyelids after they are dead (which is another scrund that is in almost every movie and TV show, but is actually totally impossible due to muscle contraction)? Anything to do with sexuality? Anything to do with drug use (hence the rick james reference)? A specific drug? Addiction? Death? Consciousness? IQ?

Does it have to do with left brain/right brain processing? Horoscopes? Any other Pseudoscience? A specific feeling or emotion? Memory? Grey matter? Deja vu? Mind playing tricks? A specific sense involved? Closing someones eyelids after they are dead (which is another scrund that is in almost every movie and TV show, but is actually totally impossible due to muscle contraction)? Good one, I never thought about that. Anything to do with sexuality? Anything to do with drug use (hence the rick james reference)? A specific drug? Addiction? Death? Consciousness? This very slightly, no to rest. IQ?

Does this scrund have anything to do with symbolism or dream interpretation? I'll say no, although sometimes, in the context of the story, the interpretation of a dream reveals that the scrund exists. But don't let this get you off track.

Is the content of the dreams relevant? Can it be said that it's a scrund about dreams? Or about dreaming? Is the scrund that people move their limbs when dreaming, when in fact the body is essentially paralyzed during REM sleep?

Is the content of the dreams relevant? Not really. Can it be said that it's a scrund about dreams? Or about dreaming? This. Is the scrund that people move their limbs when dreaming, when in fact the body is essentially paralyzed during REM sleep? Yes indeed it is. Nice working through it.

************SPOILER How many times have you seen or read this scene: our main character is tossing and turning and moaning as they sleep. We go in their head and see that they're having a strange or frightening dream. And it's probably relevant to the plot in some way, and they'll probably discuss it with another character later. The problem is, it's impossible.

What most of us would consider dreaming happens exclusively during REM sleep, a time when the body is paralyzed. The most you can do while dreaming is small facial and finger twitches. If someone is tossing and turning, crying out, talking, or sleepwalking (in the traditional sense), they are not dreaming.

Now, there is a condition called REM Behavior Disorder, in which sleep paralysis is blocked during dreams. But in that case, the person isn't just rolling around; they are quite literally acting out their dreams, to the extent that they may attack another person. Depending on the story, a writer could argue that their character was not dreaming but experiencing a night terror. But these are very rare, and cannot be remembered upon waking, which wouldn't help the plot much.

The book I was referring to was The Stand, by Stephen King. Sometimes his characters, and sometimes the narrative itself, assumes that another character is dreaming when they move in their sleep. Though technically, since King invokes the supernatural, he could argue that these are prophetic dreams that operate by different rules.

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